|
 He was born Jan. 18. 1922, in Hotchkiss, Colo., to Patrick F. and Catherine Walsh Keenan. Daniel spent his early years working on his father’s cattle ranch near Crawford, Colo. In 1942 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was shipped overseas to New Zealand where he trained with an anti-aircraft battery of the 3rd Marine Division. Daniel along with the rest of the 3rd Marine Division was sent to Guadalcanal and saw combat on the island of Bougainville. The 3rd Division moved on to the Mariannas archipelago and saw more combat on the island of Palau. After spending three years in the South Pacific he received his first furlough. Daniel then rotated to the Recruit Depot in San Diego and served as a drill sergeant until his discharge in November 1945.
After the war, Daniel returned to Western Colorado and held various jobs in ranching, logging and mining. In February 1957 he married Henrietta Ayer of Crawford, Colo. That same year he joined with his brother Robert to operate a ranch in the Crawford area. A child, Mary, was born during this time however she died at birth. In 1958 Daniel and Henrietta moved to Grand Junction, Colo., where he worked as a yard man for the Valley Livestock Auction Company. Over the next few years, two more children were born: Margaret (Margie) and Daniel (Rusty).
Daniel left the Valley Livestock to partner with Carl Nixon in the operation of a feedlot located between Grand Junction and Fruita. Although no longer working full time for the Valley Livestock, Daniel returned every Wednesday to work the regular weekly sale. He eventually bought out Mr. Nixon and continued to operate the feedlot until 1974 when he sold the property to an investment company. The property was redeveloped into warehousing for City Market. The family then moved just outside of Fruita so that the children would be closer to school. Semi-retired at this point, Daniel continued to work part-time for friends until he and Henrietta moved back to Crawford in 1990.
Throughout his life, Daniel liked the outdoors. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. He also enjoyed tinkering with motors and was known to carry a small toolkit and baling wire with him wherever he went. Daniel was a charter member of the Hotchkiss Elks Lodge, a member of the Grand Junction Moose Lodge and a lifetime member of the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Henrietta Keenan of Crawford, Colo.; two children, Margie Keenan of Denver, Colo., and Daniel (Rusty) Keenan of Fort Worth, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Maritza Keenan; four grandchildren; a sister, Mary Patterson of Great Falls, Mont.; a sister, Agnes Oglesby of Hotchkiss, Colo.; a brother, Robert Keenan of Montrose, Colo., and a brother, Raymond Keenan and his wife Jean of Grand Junction; and numerous nieces and nephews. Daniel was preceded in death by a sister, Rose Tracy.
In keeping with Daniel’s wishes there will be no funeral services. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. The family wishes to express their gratitude to his doctors and caregivers and especially to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado. Memorial contributions can be sent to the Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 24, Delta, CO 81416.
Paid obituary
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed